Area watcher for wireless network

ABSTRACT

Dynamic and current information is provided regarding a wireless device&#39;s entry into or exit from a geographically defined “watched” area. An area watcher application monitors preconfigured wireless devices entry/exit into preconfigured watched areas. The watched areas may watch for any/all subscribers, or for select, preconfigured subscribers listed in an appropriate table or database. Provision of location information is triggered by a wireless subscriber&#39;s entry, exit or changing between designated ‘watched’ areas or locations. Continuous polling may be used, or the mobile device itself or network element may be triggered to push its own location upon notification of its entry into or out of watched areas from an area watcher. A third party may be notified when a wireless user enters an area surrounding their retail store, and be sent a message such as “sale inside”, or “Your rentals are overdue”, on their wireless device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to wireless and long distance carriers,Internet service providers (ISPs), and information content deliveryservices/providers and long distance carriers. More particularly, itrelates to location services for the wireless industry.

2. Background of Related Art

The Location Interoperability Forum (LIF), the Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP) Forum, and 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)have attempted to define an area trigger via Application ProtocolInterfaces (APIs) specific to these groups.

The problem with the above solutions is that they are not well definedor do not implement schemes that would permit functionality to supportarea watching features such as are provided by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a subscriberfeature for a wireless system comprises a database associating aparticular wireless device with at least one geographic area. An areawatcher outputs a trigger message upon the particular wireless device'sentry into or exit from the at least one geographic area.

A method of providing a message to a wireless device upon their entry orexit from a pre-defined geographic area in accordance with anotheraspect of the present invention comprises establishing a watchedgeographic area. Location information regarding wireless devices ismonitored, and an area watch message is triggered upon detection of aparticular wireless device's entry into the watched geographic area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following description with referenceto the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a wireless network tour guide application resident in anSCP of a carrier's wireless intelligent network, in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts various embodiments of a location determiner shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts an established Area Watch and a relevant watched UE/MSdevice, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an Area Watch event triggered by polling user equipment, inaccordance with one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows when a watched UE enters a defined area, the locationserver of UE triggers a message to report the UE location to theLocation, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an Area Watch event triggered by UE/MS software or RANequipment, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows when a watched UE leaves a defined area, the locationserver or UE triggers a message to report the UE location to theLocation, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides an architecture and method in a wirelessmessaging and/or telephonic system for providing information regardingwhen a wireless network device (e.g., a wireless phone) enters and/orleaves a geographically defined area that is being “watched” by an areawatcher application. The area watcher application commissions andintertwines location based wireless services in a service provider'snetwork with a message system to automatically provide to a requestingthird party information regarding a subscriber's dynamic proximity to awatched area.

An area watcher is a monitoring service that delivers mobile devicelocation information triggered by a wireless subscriber's entry, exit orchanging between designated ‘watched’ areas or locations.

Exemplary techniques of watching a designated area or location include,e.g., 1) continuous polling of the mobile device under the direction ofan area watcher application program; 2) a software feature in the mobiledevice itself pushes its location to an area watcher applicationprogram; or 3) devices in the radio network determine a location of themobile device subject to an area watch application, and pushes thelocation to an element under the direction of the area watchapplication.

Definitions of the particular ‘areas’ being watched are important to thesuccessful implementation of an area watcher. In the disclosedembodiments, geographical codes are used to define the various watchedarea(s), e.g., postal code, principality, state, and/or country.Alternatively, the watched areas may be defined by their relationship toelements of a particular telecommunication network, e.g., within aparticular cell site area, within a particular location area (e.g., agroup of cell site areas), within a mobile switching center (MSC) area(i.e., within a group of location areas), and within the Public LandMobile Network (i.e., within a group of MSC Areas).

An updating service may optionally be implemented wherein the watchedarea(s) for a particular mobile device may be modified.

The area watcher feature may be preconfigured and left ongoing, or maybe a polled type request by a third party requesting confirmation of thepresence of a particular wireless user in a particular geographic area.

Area watcher services have many uses. For instance, using an areawatcher service that notifies a third party when a wireless user entersan area surrounding their retail store. The retailer might then providea timely short message to the wireless user relating to sales orpromotions occurring at the retail store when they are proximate to it.As another example, a video rental store might send a “reminder” message“Your rentals are overdue”, on their wireless device as they walk by thestore. Services might remind customers of appointments, or even senddirections to a particular floor or office in a building when the clientcomes close to the building. The services might even be just geographicin nature, e.g., special events being held nearby. The possibilities areendless.

The area watch service may allow soliciting by third parties, or it mayallow soliciting only once permitted by the wireless user (e.g., to letthem know of promotions at a particular store or mall whenever theybecome proximate to it).

FIG. 1 shows a wireless area watcher application 100 for a wirelessnetwork application resident in a service control point (SCP) 170 of acarrier's wireless intelligent network 119, in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention. While shown resident in an SCP 170,an area watcher application 100 may be resident in any one (or more)suitable element(s) of a wireless carrier's network, in accordance withthe principles of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an SCP 170 of a carrier's wireless intelligentnetwork 119 is adapted to include a wireless area watcher application100. The wireless area watcher 100 communicates with a locationmanagement system 160, a location determiner 130, and a speed determiner140, all in the wireless carrier's network. The wireless network 119 ofthe disclosed embodiment further includes a Short Message Service Center(SMSC) 150, Message Servicing Center (MSC) with Visitors LocationRegister (VLR) 190 and Home Location Register (HLR) 180.

The wireless area watcher 100 in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention utilizes location information determined by a locationdeterminer 130 to determine a proximate location of a wireless user, andthen uses that location information to determine if the wireless user iswithin an area being watched.

FIG. 2 depicts various examples of location determiners 130 shown inFIG. 1 that may be utilized by the present invention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the location determiner 130 andlocation management system 160 perform the location management functionsof determining subscriber location. Exemplary techniques implemented inthe location determiner 130 are call/sector ID 131, angle of arrival(AOA) 132, time difference of arrival (TDOA) 130, time of arrival (TOA)134, all of which are otherwise known in the art. The present inventionis entirely separate from the particular type of location detectionused. Any suitable type of location determination may be used inconjunction with an area watcher.

Returning to FIG. 1, location information is determined by the locationdeterminer 130 at the wireless network, though location mayalternatively be determined in the wireless device itself (e.g., using aGlobal Positioning Satellite (GPS) system) and provided to the wirelessarea watcher 100, which in turn compares the wireless user ID andlocation information to entries in a watched area database 105.

Speed information may optionally be determined by the locationmanagement system of the wireless network 119, to augment the areawatcher services. For instance, the slower the speed of the wirelessuser (e.g., indicating a pedestrian rather than a motorist), perhaps themore likely they are to be affected by information about a promotionoccurring therein.

The speed determiner 140 may determine speed of a wireless device (e.g.,walking tour, driving tour, flying tour, etc.) inferentially. The speedmay be used, e.g., to determine relevance of the proximity of thewireless subscriber. For instance, if a wireless subscriber is passingby a retail store while driving at full speed on an Interstate highway,a message related to the retail store may be more nuisance than benefit.

A location and time history may be maintained by the location managementsystem 160 with respect to particular subscribers being watched by thewireless area watcher 100.

A generalized determination of speed may be sufficient for manyapplications, e.g., whether the wireless device acts as if it isconsistent with a walking subscriber, driving subscriber, bikingsubscriber, flying subscriber, etc. The wireless subscriber beingwatched by the wireless area watcher 100 may alternatively be promptedby the wireless area watcher 100 and/or location management system 160to manually (or audibly) input a particular mode of transportation,generally indicate whether their speed is less than or greater than agiven speed, e.g., less than 5 miles/hour (e.g., walking) or more than 5miles/hour (e.g., biking, driving, etc.) Of course, the wirelesssubscriber may also be prompted for location information, which may beinput manually, though the present invention is focused more on theadvantages that an automated implementation of the area watcherprovides.

Voice recognition may be implemented in the carrier's wireless network119 (e.g., accessible to the SCP 170) to simplify a user's input ofrelevant information, e.g., in navigating through an appropriate userinterface menu. For instance, a user can speak the name or otheridentifying feature of areas that they would like to be “watched” in.

FIG. 3 depicts an established area watch feature for at least oneparticular watched UE/MS device, in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, a watched area 120 is defined in any suitable andappropriate manner, e.g., by geographical related boundaries, or bytelecommunication network defined boundaries. Exemplary geographicalrelated boundaries include, e.g., by street, by postal code, byprincipality, and even by state or country. Exemplary telecommunicationnetwork defined boundaries include, e.g., by cell site, by locationarea, by mobile switching center (MSC) area, or by public land mobilenetwork area.

The watched area 120 monitors if/when a watched device 125 enters theboundaries of the watched area 120. While the boundaries are ideallyaccurately defined, specific perimeters may be fuzzy due to the natureof radio communications. Nevertheless, the boundaries will be asaccurate as the specific location technology being used. For instance,if the watched device includes a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS)system for location information, the boundaries of the watched area willbe extremely accurate. On the other hand, if radio communication typelocation technology such as angle of arrival and/cell sector is used theexact location of the boundaries of the watched area 120 may be somewhatfuzzier.

FIG. 4 shows an Area Watch event triggered by polling user equipment, inaccordance with one aspect of the present invention. Elements involvedin the events shown in FIG. 4 include a location services client (LCS)client 402, a location server (LS) 404, a home location register (HLR)406, an MSC/packet data node 408, a radio access network (RAN) 410, anduser equipment or mobile subscriber (UE/MS) 412.

The disclosed network elements 402-412 are by way of example only. Ofcourse, other elements in a wireless network may be implemented withinthe scope of the present invention.

As shown in step 1 of FIG. 4, a location services (LCS) client 402 sendsa message and sets up an area to watch to a relevant location server404.

In step 2, once the area watch feature is setup, messages are sent tothe user equipment/mobile subscriber 412 to update the network withcurrent and live location information regarding the mobile subscriber412, e.g., by MSC location, cell site location, etc.

In step 3, once the location update is made, the location server 404requests routing information, and location information such as MSC andperhaps cell site information, to the home location register (HLR) 406.

In step 4, the response to the request made in step 3 is sent.

In step 5, location is requested to either the MSC or packet data node408 for precise location information, e.g., GPS location information,location information provided using triangulation methods, etc.

In step 6, the location request is forwarded to the radio access network(RAN) 410 if needed.

In step 7, a response to the location request is sent to the locationserver 404.

Steps 2-7 are repeatedly performed in the exemplary embodiment, e.g., ata designated intervals, to monitor for specific mobile subscribers suchthat the relevant mobile subscriber 412 will be detected upon enteringor leaving a particular watched area 120.

In step 8, if the location reported to the location server 404determines that the mobile subscriber 412 has entered or left a watchedarea 120, a message is sent to the relevant LCS client 402 (e.g., theLCS client that originally established the area watch feature for thatwatched area 120, for that mobile subscriber 125, which that mobilesubscriber 125 just entered).

FIG. 5 shows when a watched mobile subscriber 125 enters a particulardefined watched area 120, the location server 404 of the mobilesubscriber 125 triggers a message to report its location, in accordancewith the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a Area Watch triggered by mobile subscriber software orradio access network equipment, in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

In particular, as shown in step 1 of FIG. 6, a location services client402 sends a message and sets up an area to watch to the location server404.

In step 2, once the area watch feature is established and set up,messages are sent to the MSC/packet data node 408 or mobile subscriber125 to establish a watch for that particular subscriber, in thatparticular watched area 120.

Software on the mobile subscriber 125 or MSC/packet data node 408monitor the location of the mobile subscriber 125 until the softwaredetermines that the mobile subscriber 125 has entered or left therelevant watched area 120.

In step 3, if the area watcher module determines that any watched mobilesubscriber 125 has entered or left this (or other) watched area 120,accurate location information regarding that mobile subscriber 125 issent to the LCS client 402 that set up the area watch feature in thefirst place.

Then finally, in step 4, the location information regarding the watchedmobile subscriber 125 is forwarded to the relevant LCS client 402 (e.g.,the LCS client 402 that originally established the watch for that mobilesubscriber 125 in that watched area 120).

FIG. 7 shows that when a watched mobile subscriber 125 leaves a definedwatched area, the location server 404 or mobile subscriber 125 triggersa message to report the location of that mobile subscriber 125 to thelocation server 404, in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

Thus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, awatched device 125 may report location periodically, or in response torepeated or periodic triggers (e.g., polling). The location may bereported, triggering a watched area event, as a result of an actionperformed by the mobile subscriber wireless device 125, or by itsentering or leaving a designated watched area 120.

An area watcher in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention has particular application for use with vendors of locationservices (e.g., with GMLS and MPC).

An area watcher in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention may be implemented with any desirable level of privacyprotections, including levels that restrict transmission of locationinformation for those particular subscribers that opt-out of theservice, or who otherwise desire that their location information not beprovided to third parties. For instance, existence in the watched areamay be reported without disclosure of the exact location of theparticular mobile subscriber 125.

In accordance with the present invention, information may or may not beprovided with respect to when the wireless user 125 exits the area beingwatched 120, depending upon the particular needs of the wirelesscarrier. Elimination of “exit” messages would reduce network loading.Alternatively, polling or other occasional updates may be implemented toconfirm the continued presence of the mobile subscriber 125 in aparticular area 120 being watched. Upon the absence of a confirmationmessage when expected, the wireless user 125 can then be presumed by therequesting third party to have exited the watched area 120.

Moreover, to assure the privacy of wireless users, accurate locationinformation may be blocked from transmission to the requesting thirdparty. If such a feature is desired, only the affirmative “present” typeinformation, or “not present” information may be provided to therequesting third party. This would indicate merely that the mobilesubscriber 125 is somewhere in the watched area 120, but does not wantto provide the third party with exact location information.

While the invention has been described with reference to the exemplaryembodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to makevarious modifications to the described embodiments of the inventionwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A subscriber feature for a wireless system,comprising: a database associating a particular wireless device with atleast one geographic area; a Short Message Service (SMS) messagetransmitter to transmit a short message said particular wireless device;and an area watcher to output said short message upon said particularwireless device's entry into or exit from said at least one geographicarea.
 18. The subscriber feature for a wireless system according toclaim 17, wherein: said geographic area is defined by a zip code. 19.The subscriber feature for a wireless system according to claim 17,wherein: said geographic area is defined by boundaries of the reach of aparticular cell site.
 20. The subscriber feature for a wireless systemaccording to claim 17, wherein: said geographic area is defined byproximity to a particular retail establishment.
 21. A method ofproviding a message to a wireless device upon their entry or exit from apre-defined geographic area, comprising: establishing a watchedgeographic area; monitoring location information regarding wirelessdevices; and triggering a short message service (SMS) message upondetection of a particular wireless device's entry into said watchedgeographic area.
 22. The method of providing a message to a wirelessdevice upon their entry or exit from a pre-defined geographic areaaccording to claim 21, wherein: said triggered area watch messagerelates to unsolicited retail information.
 23. The method of providing amessage to a wireless device upon their entry or exit from a pre-definedgeographic area according to claim 21, further comprising: associatingat least one particular wireless device with said established, watchedgeographic area.
 24. The method of providing a message to a wirelessdevice upon their entry or exit from a pre-defined geographic areaaccording to claim 21, wherein: said monitoring comprises polling oflocation information regarding wireless users.
 25. The method ofproviding a message to a wireless device upon their entry or exit from apre-defined geographic area according to claim 21, wherein saidmonitoring comprises a location push by said wireless device.
 26. Themethod of providing a message to a wireless device upon their entry orexit from a pre-defined geographic area according to claim 21, wherein:said monitoring comprises a location push by a wireless carrier networkservicing said wireless device.
 27. Apparatus for providing a message toa wireless device upon their entry or exit from a pre-defined geographicarea, comprising: means for establishing a watched geographic area;means for monitoring location information regarding wireless devices;and means for triggering a short message service (SMS) message upondetection of a particular wireless device's entry into said watchedgeographic area.
 28. The apparatus for providing a message to a wirelessdevice upon their entry or exit from a pre-defined geographic areaaccording to claim 27, wherein: said triggered area watch messagerelates to unsolicited retail information.
 29. The apparatus forproviding a message to a wireless device upon their entry or exit from apre-defined geographic area according to claim 27, further comprising:means for associating at least one particular wireless device with saidestablished, watched geographic area.
 30. The apparatus for providing amessage to a wireless device upon their entry or exit from a pre-definedgeographic area according to claim 27, wherein: said means formonitoring polls location information regarding wireless users.
 31. Theapparatus for providing a message to a wireless device upon their entryor exit from a pre-defined geographic area according to claim 27,wherein said monitoring comprises a location push by said wirelessdevice.
 32. The apparatus for providing a message to a wireless deviceupon their entry or exit from a pre-defined geographic area according toclaim 27, wherein: said monitoring comprises a location push by awireless carrier network servicing said wireless device.